Since legalization in Canada and most of the U.S., many companies have joined the cannabis industry. Increased innovation has not only improved the cannabis plant itself but the ways we enjoy and consume weed. A great example of this is cannabis concentrates (sometimes referred to as extracts). This article explores concentrates and three ways we can enjoy them.

WHAT ARE CANNABIS CONCENTRATES

I don’t know about you, but when I hear the term “concentrated” I think orange juice. Which actually… is a decent analogy. Concentrated orange juice is a result of crushing or blending the fruit, removing most of the water, leaving nothing but the good stuff. Now, that can of concentrated orange juice is much stronger than a glass of juice the same size.

In a similar manner, the most desirable parts of a cannabis plant are distilled down, capturing all the cannabinoids and terpenes, with none of the excess plant material. Therefore, ounce for ounce, weed concentrates are much more potent than a raw bud. Because of this, marijuana concentrates allow you to experience the best part of the plant and come in a variety of forms.

DABBING

This is the most common way to consume marijuana concentrates. Dabbing is the process of heating a concentrate until it vapourizes. It produces an extremely potent vapour which is then inhaled.

A dab rig is a special pipe/bong designed specifically for vapourizing cannabis concentrates. It works similarly to a bong, sending the vapour through water at the bottom. However, an additional component is required; something to hold or dabthe concentrate with, this is usually a tool made out of glass, ceramic, titanium or quartz.

Super Jack Herer is a great extract to try with a dab rig. It’s a sativa strain that picks you up but leaves you functional and able to greet the day ahead.

A dab pen is a much more discreet, and a portable way to consume concentrated marijuana. They don’t get you as high as a dab rig, but its effects are immediate. With the pen, the cartridge’s batter acts as a heating element that vapourizes the cannabis concentrate.

Try using Sunshine Coast Pink Hash Rosin in your vape pen. It’s extracted using pressure, temperature and filter bags, offering double refining which means it’s a very high-quality hash, that is smooth and fast-acting.

EDIBLES

From cookies to gummies, edibles are a great way to enjoy concentrates. They provide a long-lasting high, that can be quite potent (depending on the strain, of course). The only thing you need to keep in mind for edibles is the onset time. If you were to vape or dab a concentrate, you’ll feel its effects almost immediately, and they last for a couple of hours. Edibles, however, usually take one to two hours to kick in and can last up to six hours.

TOPICALS AND TRANSDERMALS

A transdermal is a patch, such as the Full Spectrum CBD patch from Island Therapeutics. It’s designed to target a specific area to relieve inflammation and pain for up to 24 hours.

Topicals are similar, however, they don’t stick on, you apply them as an oil or cream to specific areas you are trying to treat. Many patients with chronic pain and inflammation or skin conditions such as Shingles have had a lot of success with topicals.